Order of Book Series
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Julian May Books in Order

Julian May has written 50 books, published between 1961 and 2015. The first book is Robots and Thinking Machines (1961) and the newest is There's Adventure in Atomic Energy (2015). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
50
Published
1961–2015
Confirmed
2 of 50 titles
Pages on record
7,837 in 43 of 50 books
Reading time
131–196 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 7,837 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 43 of 50 titles with a page count on record.

See all 50 books in order Printable Julian May checklist
Photo of Julian May, author

Julian Clare May (July 10, 1931 - October 17, 2017) was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy, horror, science and children's books, working under several pseudonyms as well. The Saga of Pliocene Exile, titled Saga of the Exiles in the United Kingdom, and the Galactic Milieu books are the work May is best known for. The catalogue holds 50 titles dated 1961 to 2015, opening with Robots and Thinking Machines. Much of the run is juvenile writing: profiles of Johnny Unitas, Willie Mays, Bobby Orr, Ernie Banks, Fran Tarkenton, Gale Sayers, Roberto Clemente and Billie Jean King all fall between 1972 and 1974, and Sports Close-Up is among the series on record. Median length across the catalogue is 47 pages.

How many Julian May books are there?

Julian May has 50 books, released between 1961 and 2015. They include 6 series and 12 titles listed outside any series.

Julian May Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 50 Julian May books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of The Land Beneath the Sea by Julian May (1971)
  2. Cover of Johnny Unitas and the Long Pass by Julian May, book 1 of the Sports Close-Up series (1972)
  3. Cover of Willie Mays, Most Valuable Player by Julian May, book 2 of the Sports Close-Up series (1972)
  4. Cover of Bobby Orr, Star On Ice by Julian May, book 4 of the Sports Close-Up series (1973)
  5. Cover of Ernie Banks, Home Run Slugger by Julian May, book 5 of the Sports Close-Up series (1973)
  6. Cover of Gale Sayers, Star Running Back by Julian May, book 7 of the Sports Close-Up series (1973)
  7. Cover of Bobby Hull, Hockey's Golden Jet by Julian May, book 8 of the Sports Close-Up series (1974)
  8. Cover of Hank Aaron Clinches The Pennant by Julian May, book 10 of the Sports Close-Up series (1974)
  9. Cover of Muhammad Ali, Boxing Superstar by Julian May, book 15 of the Sports Close-Up series (1975)
  10. Cover of Frank Robinson by Julian May, book 16 of the Sports Close-Up series (1975)
  11. Cover of Arthur Ashe, Dark Star Of Tennis by Julian May, book 18 of the Sports Close-Up series (1975)
  12. Cover of Frankenstein by Julian May (1977)
  13. Cover of Pelé, World Soccer Star by Julian May, book 20 of the Sports Close-Up series (1977)
  14. Cover of The Many-Colored Land by Julian May, book 1 of the Pliocene Exile series (1981)
  15. Cover of Frankenstein Meets Wolfman by Julian May (1981)
  16. Cover of The Mummy by Julian May (1981)
  17. Cover of Creature from the Black Lagoon by Julian May (1981)
  18. Cover of The Deadly Mantis by Julian May (1982)
  19. Cover of The Blob by Julian May (1982)
  20. Cover of The Nonborn King by Julian May, book 3 of the Pliocene Exile series (1983)
  21. Cover of The Adversary by Julian May, book 4 of the Pliocene Exile series (1984)
  22. Cover of Surveillance by Julian May, book 1 of the Intervention series (1987)
  23. Cover of Blood Trillium by Julian May, book 2 of the Trillium series (1992)
  24. Cover of Diamond Mask by Julian May, book 2 of the Galactic Milieu Trilogy (1994)
  1. 1
    Robots and Thinking Machines1961 · confirmed 2/4
    1961–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    The Land Beneath the Sea1971 · 40 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197140
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Johnny Unitas and the Long PassSports Close-Up #11972 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197246
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Willie Mays, Most Valuable PlayerSports Close-Up #21972 · 47 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197247
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Fran Tarkenton, Scrambling QuarterbackSports Close-Up #31973 · 47 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197347
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Bobby Orr, Star On IceSports Close-Up #41973 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197346
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Ernie Banks, Home Run SluggerSports Close-Up #51973 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197346
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Roberto Clemente and the World Series UpsetSports Close-Up #61973 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197346
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Gale Sayers, Star Running BackSports Close-Up #71973 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197346
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Bobby Hull, Hockey's Golden JetSports Close-Up #81974 · 47 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197447
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Billie Jean King, Tennis ChampionSports Close-Up #91974 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197446
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Hank Aaron Clinches The PennantSports Close-Up #101974 · 45 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197445
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    O.J. SimpsonSports Close-Up #111974 · 47 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197447
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    Evel Knievel, Daredevil StuntmanSports Close-Up #121975 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197546
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Janet Lynn, Figure Skating StarSports Close-Up #131975 · 42 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197542
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Chris EvertSports Close-Up #141975 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197546
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Muhammad Ali, Boxing SuperstarSports Close-Up #151975 · 48 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197548
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Frank RobinsonSports Close-Up #161975 · 47 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197547
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Phil Esposito, The Big BruinSports Close-Up #171975 · 44 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197544
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Arthur Ashe, Dark Star Of TennisSports Close-Up #181975 · 44 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197544
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Evonne GoolagongSports Close-Up #191975 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197546
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Frankenstein1977 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197746
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Gazetteer of the Hyborian World of Conan1977 · 119 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1977119
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Pelé, World Soccer StarSports Close-Up #201977 · 47 pages · confirmed 2/4
    197747
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    The Many-Colored LandPliocene Exile #11981 · confirmed 2/4
    1981–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Frankenstein Meets Wolfman1981 · 47 pages · confirmed 2/4
    198147
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    The Mummy1981 · 47 pages · confirmed 2/4
    198147
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Creature from the Black Lagoon1981 · 46 pages · confirmed 2/4
    198146
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    The Golden TorcPliocene Exile #21982 · 381 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1982381
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    It Came from Outer Space1982 · confirmed 2/4
    1982–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Julian May books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.

Sports Close-Up in order

20 books
  1. 1. Johnny Unitas and the Long Pass
  2. 2. Willie Mays, Most Valuable Player
  3. 3. Fran Tarkenton, Scrambling Quarterback
  4. 4. Bobby Orr, Star On Ice
  5. 5. Ernie Banks, Home Run Slugger
  6. 6. Roberto Clemente and the World Series Upset
  7. 7. Gale Sayers, Star Running Back
  8. 8. Bobby Hull, Hockey's Golden Jet
  9. 9. Billie Jean King, Tennis Champion
  10. 10. Hank Aaron Clinches The Pennant
  11. 11. O.J. Simpson
  12. 12. Evel Knievel, Daredevil Stuntman
  13. and 8 more in the table above

Pliocene Exile in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Many-Colored Land
  2. 2. The Golden Torc
  3. 3. The Nonborn King
  4. 4. The Adversary

Intervention in order

3 books
  1. 1. Surveillance
  2. 2. Metaconcert
  3. 3. Intervention

Galactic Milieu Trilogy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Jack the Bodiless
  2. 2. Diamond Mask
  3. 3. Magnificat

Rampart Worlds in order

3 books
  1. 1. Orion Arm
  2. 2. Perseus Spur
  3. 3. Sagittarius Whorl

Boreal Moon in order

3 books
  1. 1. Conqueror's Moon
  2. 2. Ironcrown Moon
  3. 3. Sorcerer's Moon

Trillium in order

2 books
  1. 2. Blood Trillium
  2. 5. Sky Trillium

Standalone books

12 books

12 Julian May titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Julian May books in order?

You only need to read Julian May books in order within each series: the books listed here span 6 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Julian May

Start with Robots and Thinking Machines (1961), the earliest published title.

What is the newest Julian May book?

There's Adventure in Atomic Energy (2015) is the newest Julian May book released so far.

Is there a new Julian May book coming?

No next Julian May book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Awards Julian May has won

Wikidata records 1 award and 7 nominations for Julian May. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

Julian May at a glance

Died
Julian May died in 2017, according to Wikidata.
Last book
The newest book credited to Julian May on record dates from 2015.
Release pace
Julian May books have appeared about one a year on average.
Length
7,837 pages across the 43 of 50 books with a recorded length, a median of 47 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Julian May books, 23 of 50, were published in the 1970s.

What the Julian May books are about

43 of the 50 Julian May books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: juvenile literature is tagged on 23 of 43. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.